Saturday, 26 July 2014

Old Illustrations ( Cheat Sheets) of Ashtanga Series

Kristina turned up with an old file of Ashtanga material last night, gave it to me to go through to see if there was anything of interest. Yep, all kinds of treasures buried away. What I loved most though were all these old illustrations, 'cheat sheets', of the Ashtanga series, I love them and couldn't wait to share.

Update: Just got a few notes from Kristina on credits.

First up is a version of 3rd series that Kristina just had laminated in the shala (just heard it was drawn by Liz Lark), I was using this at the end of last week to remind me of the series ( I practised up as far as Purna matsyendrasana on top of 2nd on my Birthday Thursday).

By Liza Lark Story goes, Liz was making a trip to Mysore and Derek asked her to come up with a 3rd series sheet.

This seems to be another version of the one above (different artist though we think), think I like it better, especially the kukkutasana.

This was a nice surprise a sample of Lino Miele's famous poster with a note from Lino to Derek on the back introducing the poster.

Below the first Ashtanga book? This was used at The Practice Place back in the, what, late 80's early 90's.

The Practice place, Crete

My understanding is that Derek Ireland asked John Scott to draw these back when John was working at The Practice Place on Crete, seems many current Ashtanga teachers worked there at some time or other, Hamish Hendry, Gingi Lee, Alex Medin...to name but a few

This one I've seen somewhere before, sure I have a copy of it somewhere by Monica.... can't quite read the surname ( will research).

This is one of my favourites. a mixture of Advanced A and B. I've heard mention before that Advanced A and B were supposedly one series, that doesn't seem to fit as we have Nancy and David's 1973 syllabus which includes Advanced A and B and is supposed to correspond to Pattabhi Jois' original Sanskrit College syllabus from the late 30s, early 40s. Krishnamacharya of course had just the one advanced series or 'Proficient group' but there doesn't seem to be any recognisable order (see my previous post).

This is interesting, I noticed that in Kristina's shala there is no lift included after utkatasana and virabhadrasana. That's curious because it's there in Yoga Mala so as 'old School' as you get. But look below there are the two lifts but crossed out and they don't appear on the John Scott Tripetra sheets above. Strange when you think of Derek's love of handstands/arm balances.

This is Cute ( by Katerina Zougrou) and was in the same sleeve as the sheet above, no idea what it's doing there or what's going on but I love it. Kristina just told me that this was an intro to Ashtanga for her over 60's before moving them on to Sun salutations.

by Katerina Zougrou

by Katerina Zougrou

by Katerina Zougrou

These next couple seem to be from Jean-Claude Garnier (Brussels).

The next couple show how Iyengar's light on Yoga was used as a resource, found several references to it in the folder. here it was used for translations of all the names of the asana.

At first I thought these were illustrations of a woman practising Ashtanga but I'm currently uploading a video of Derek Ireland teaching a class in Helsinki in 1989 and he has that mane of blond hair of his up in a high ponytail, are these supposed to be illustrations of Derek?

And these are the current 'cheat sheets' At Kristina's Rethymno Shala, it's Apollo practising the Ashtanga series. I believe these may be available to buy if you contact the shala http://www.yogapractice.gr

Showing just the primary here but there are sheets from Sury's to Intermediate

1 comment:

And these hanumanasana and samakonasana on the standing sequence? I've never seen it but sure I love it!!! Everyday on my daily practice I think they should be on the first series or somewhere else more "available" than the third series. Since I've added it on the first series between some marichyasanas (shhhh! don't tell anyone) my psoas feels soooo much better. I think it's helping me a lot on the second series and also on my dropbacks.I love your blog, it's been a source of good info and motivation for me since the beginning of my yoga practice. Thank you very much :)

A Reminder

from Kalama sutra, translation from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi This blog included.

"So, as I said, Kalamas: 'Don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to harm & to suffering" — then you should abandon them.' Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

"Now, Kalamas, don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher.' When you know for yourselves that, 'These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness' — then you should enter & remain in them. Buddha - Kalama Sutta